UAE | DD News

October 11, 2026 1:16 PM

All crew members aboard MT GEM No. 2 rescued and safe: Indian Consulate in Dubai

The Consulate General of India in Dubai has confirmed that all 22 Indian crew members aboard oil tanker MT GEM No. 2 have been rescued and are safe. This follows a fire incident on the vessel off the Ras Al Khaimah coast. In an update, the Consulate said it was in touch with UAE authorities and extending all possible assistance and support to the Indian seafarers. According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the Coast Guard Division of the UAE National Guard Command had rescued 22 Asian nationa...

October 7, 2026 6:34 PM

Houthis attack Airports in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, UAE condemns Houthi attacks on civilian facilities

In further escalation of the ongoing conflict in Yemen, Houthi group claimed missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and government-held areas of Yemen this morning. The Houthis said drones targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, disrupting air traffic, while ballistic missiles and drones targeted Abha International Airport and the Khamis Mushait military base. The Saudi-led coalition, meanwhile, said it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched towards Khamis Musha...

October 6, 2026 8:56 PM

Indian Captain Machchhar making ‘steady progress’: Indian embassy in UAE

Indian Captain Smit Machchhar is making “steady progress” and is “regaining his health”, the Indian Embassy in the UAE said on Tuesday. On flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot, an Omani citizen, with a crash axe, typically kept in the cockpit for use in emergencies, seriously injuring him. The motive for the attack remains unclear. “Capt Smit continues to make steady progress and is regaining his health. The Embassy remains in close touch with h...

October 6, 2026 10:16 AM

Flydubai co-pilot completed portion of his flight training in New Zealand, police says

The flydubai co-pilot who stabbed his captain in an alleged attempt to crash a plane last week was in New Zealand seven years ago to complete a portion of his flight training for a U.K.-based company, New Zealand police said in a statement on Tuesday. Police said the man was in New Zealand between November 2018 and May 2019 on a six-month student visa. "Immigration records show he arrived in New Zealand on 30 November 2018 and departed 23 May 2019," New Zealand Assistant Commissioner Michael J...

October 5, 2026 5:42 PM

India and UAE discuss ways to expand trade, investment and business cooperation

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday discussed ways to further expand trade, investment and business cooperation. The discussions were held during a meeting between India’s Consul General Vishnu Vardhan Reddy and UAE’s Minister of Economy and Tourism, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri. “Consul General Dr. E. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy called on H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism of the UAE. The meeting highlighted the strong momentum in India–UAE economic r...

October 5, 2026 1:34 PM

Co-pilot planned flydubai attack before joining airline, two Israeli officials say

The flydubai co-pilot who stabbed his captain in an alleged attempt to crash the plane has told UAE interrogators he planned the attack before he was hired by the Dubai state-owned airline, according to two Israeli officials with knowledge of the probe. A third source briefed on the UAE probe said the co-pilot, an Omani national, had planned to crash Wednesday's flight into Ben-Gurion airport near Tel Aviv. He had also operated a flight to Tel Aviv earlier this year and intended to hijack and c...

October 5, 2026 10:21 AM

Australia probes flydubai co-pilot’s links to the country, police say

A multi-agency Australian counterterrorism unit is investigating links to Australia of the co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073, who stabbed his captain and then attempted to hijack the plane, a police spokesperson said on Sunday. The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team – which comprises federal police, Victorian state police and the ASIO intelligence agency – was "investigating the man's links to Australia," the Australian Federal Police spokesperson said. Two sources briefed on the inve...

October 4, 2026 2:19 PM

Explainer: What do we know about flydubai flight 1073?

Here is what we know, and don't know, about the reported attempt by the copilot of flydubai flight 1073 to crash the plane on September 30 before it landed safely in Saudi Arabia. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PLANE? The flight, carrying more than 170 mostly Israeli passengers and crew, departed Dubai at 0305 GMT, according to flight data reviewed by Reuters. At 0521 GMT in Saudi airspace it made a sudden, sharp turn and plunged towards the ground twice, before stabilising. The plane fell more than 16...

October 4, 2026 2:16 PM

Flydubai co-pilot attacked pilot with axe in attempted ‘terrorist attack’, UAE says

The co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073, which was bound for Israel, attempted to carry out a "terrorist attack" with an axe during the flight, the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general said on Saturday. The co-pilot was identified as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. A second source briefed on the investigation confirmed the co-pilot’s name. UAE authorities did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation of his identit...

October 2, 2026 10:17 AM

Flydubai incident: Co-pilot accused of assaulting Captain Smit transferred to UAE, says Saudi Arabia

The co-pilot accused of assaulting Captain Smit Machchhar has been transferred to Abu Dhabi. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA), quoting an official source at the Saudi Ministry of Interior, reported that both pilots left the country for Abu Dhabi after receiving medical clearance. The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi had yesterday informed that Captain Machchhar had been brought to the UAE and was recovering well. As reported by SPA, the aircraft landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Inte...